Author

Abstract/Review

The main objective of this study is to assess
public economic preferences for biodiversity conservation
and water supply and to analyse the factors
influencing those preferences. A survey based on the
choice experiment method was carried out at Peñuelas
National Reserve, Chile, an area that is threatened by
both occasional forest fires and the growing housing
market. The input of local administrators was used to
define environmental attributes of the area related to
biodiversity conservation and water supply. Attributes
were selected for analysis by the choice experiment.
The selected attributes were the following: existence
of endemic orchid species, chances of observing animals
with scenic attraction, additional protection for
an endemic amphibian, and availability of drinkable
water in the future. A monetary variable consisting of
an increase in the rate for entry to the area was also
incorporated to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for
additional protection for the selected attributes. Three
hundred four Chilean visitors to the reserve were
randomly selected for interviews. Econometric analysis
based on the Theory of Utility Maximization shows
that visitors are willing to pay to protect the selected
attributes. WTP values for the attributes range from
CHP $2,600 ($5.4) to $6,600 ($14) per person per
visit. The results of this research provide reserve managers
information about tradeoffs that could be used to
enhance public support and maximise the social benefits
of nature conservation management programmes.